Please help reassure me feel terrible

[windydoggy]

Our dog is now 6 and had issues with other dogs since he was about a year after being attacked by another dog .
We are always careful with him around other dogs but tonight I took him out with his ball into a field , was almost round field when a woman with two dogs entered , I put him on lead and put ball away but then noticed they were staying well away so left his lead on but carried on throwing ball leaving lead trailing behind him .
Next thing I know one of her dogs comes running over and mine turns and bites hers and I manage to grab mine and pull him away .
Woman was very upset and to be honest I was upset but cross with her for allowing hers to come running over like it did .
To be honest my mental health is not great at the moment and just feel so sad and upset as our darling dog had been coming on leaps and bounds with accepting other dogs and this has put us backwards .

Don't feel bad, like you said the dog ran over, there was no careful introduction on leads etc. Now you know, he's still worried, or he just really didn't like that particular dog. As he'd been in the field for a while already he might have been a bit territorial about it as well. You'd obviously been dealing with his issues with other dogs carefully and responsibly so just go back to what you were doing before. Don't let the woman being upset get to you either, both your reactions were normal and you managed to pull you dog away.

Was her dog badly injured ? Unfortunately because your dog was running loose you can’t really be annoyed about her dog coming over , if you had actually been holidng onto your dogs lead then fair enough it would be entirely her responsibility .

Please don't be upset, you've been doing all the right things to help your dog. Plenty of dogs don't like unknown dogs bounding up and getting into their space, the other dog owner was irresponsible.
I would keep him on lead unless you're in a secure area and you know other dogs aren't there.

@MsChicken Thank you so much that was just what I wanted to hear .
Just wish I hadn't carried on throwing ball after I put his lead on but after a few minutes of her keeping her dogs away I stupidly thought she wouldn't allow hers to come running over .
He has made so much progress and was playing with two young dogs yesterday but I was shocked by how quickly he bit this dog today .

Not sure how badly damaged hers was , it was limping ☹️so think my boy bit him on the leg . She said hers was old .
She was very cross and told me to go away .
Mine only had time for one bite before I dragged him away .
Just feel so very shit and unhappy. Maybe I shouldn't be a dog mum ☹️

Don’t be ridiculous , these things happen . My dog has been attacked twice and involved in another fight which was sort of six of one etc , at least you dragged yours off . On the two occasions when mine was attacked the other owners were bloody useless and I had to rescue my dog - in the bulldog incident I ended up getting bitten .

@Floralnomad Thank you 😊
Just need to relax now , can't stop thinking about it .

Don't be so down on yourself, as pps have said, you've being doing all the right things. My ddog hates other dogs coming at him, he would have reacted similarly.

2 questions:
Do you love your dog?
Does having him around improve make you happy?

If yes, then you totally should be a dog mum.

@Aimily Yes love him so very much and yes he makes my life so much better .
Just wish he liked other dogs more .
Was suprised how he flew for this dog as he had got so much better .

Honestly put it down to experience. Now you know he's still nervous in certain situations. Both of you had your dogs off their leads but something about this particular situation didn't work for him. There's a whole load of things there for him to be reacting to, previous bad experience, strange dog approaching at speed, territory, his ball, protecting you, all of them are defensive. If he was aggressive by nature he'd have been the one running across the field to attack. He didn't do that. Like Bookworm said keep him on the lead unless in a secure area.

Thank you all . You have made me feel loads better 💐to you all

@MsChicken your right hadn't thought of the fact that if he was aggressive he would of ran over and gone for other dog but he was happy doing his thing until other dog came over .

Generally if I see an on lead dog, I keep mine away. If the dog is off lead I assume it's ok to let mine off- I'd guess that is why she kept her dog away at first, then let it come over when yours was off lead.

What's done is done, try not to get too stressed- dogs generally work these things out.

If my dog ran over to another dog and got bitten then it's my fault for not having control of my runaway.

Don't worry op. She should have had control of her dog.

@picklemepopcorn yes fair point , I was watching them and did put him on lead , when they stayed away I let go of the lead but was only throwing ball a few meters away in front of me so he was very close , just didn't expect hers to run behind me .It all happened so quickly.
@tablelegs bless you just what I wanted to hear , maybe if the very cross other owner is a mumsnetter you could tell her that .

Hm, well, I have a dog who can be aggressive too, though she’s never properly bit, so I definitely sympathise with how hard it can be.
Technically the other dogs shouldn’t have run over to join in the game.

However.

I would be angry at what happened too.
I sometimes take a ball thrower for my dog and other dogs frequently join in.
My dog really doesn’t care, she is that obsessed with the ball!
Sometimes I do have dogs try to steal the ball which I do find irritating but a dog just coming over to chase the ball too I don’t really mind.

I would assume that a dog off leash running for the ball is likely friendly and not toy possessive so whilst I am careful not to let my dog bomb over and intrude on other dogs ball playing if she did I wouldn’t be too concerned because I’d think the playing dog won’t be dog/toy aggressive because otherwise you surely wouldn’t be off leash surrounded by other dogs?

I think it would be different if it was a dog that had bombed over to your leashed dog or had jumped all over him or something but to be badly bitten for just running over to chase a ball, yes I would be angry.

These things happen OP. I’ve had my fair share of dog confrontation on both sides but it’s most important to just learn from it.

I would keep your dog on a lead from now on or muzzle if off lead, to protect your dog more than anything. I had a dog exactly the same previously (fear aggression) so I know how hard it is but people really are idiots!

I think if it's going to bite straight away it needs to be muzzled

Seriously, Your dogs vicious, it should be on a lead at all times, so should hers tbf, legally. But you’re a CF

@Jaffacakebeast why am I a cf ?
How daft are you , I said what happened and agree I should have just hung onto lead The other dog was going in opposite direction .
I didn't expect other dog to come racing back from so far away and don't think my boy did either think my boy thought other dog was coming to attack me with the speed it approached with .
Why am I a cheeky fucker ?
How does that make me a cf as read the situation wrong ?
Seriously been on Mumsnet years but some posts are beyond belief 🙄

@Jaffacakebeast Do fuck off , he's not vicious at all like I said in post he's not great with other dogs due to be attacked when young .can handle most situations but doesn't like being suprised by other dogs .
Why am I thick ?
And why does this make me a cf .
Maybe you need to back off if nothing useful to say .

I have a 50ft lead for mine and it allows plenty of freedom but I'm still attached to him. He's an idiot jack Russell to will chase anything so it's for his own protection! Might be something to look into?

Yes I would assume a dog off lead is ok for dogs I walk to approach/play with. If on lead I'd stop them but now you know you will know to keep him on the lead when there are other dogs around.

@QuestionableMouse Thank you , yes that's a good idea , like I said before we don't usually have an issue as his recall is great and aren't usually suprised by other dogs rushing over , people see me putting him on lead as I did the. And keep dogs away but my mistake was after a few minutes allowing him to run a few metres ahead of me and that seemed to give them the green light to allow there dog to coming rushing over .
Hey ho we live and learn , to be honest I am completely gobsmacked by Jaffa calling me an idiot and a cf .... I did my best but read the situation wrong 🤷🏼‍♀️